Professional Baseball Player. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts. William, better known as Kitty began his career in baseball as an outfielder with shop teams in Worcester. In 1894 he began to bat, and the following year he received a tryout with the professional team in Pawtucket. Kitty returned to the Worcester area and played for strong semipro teams in Westboro and Grafton. In 1898 at the age of 23 the backstop received another professional trial, this time with the National League's Boston Beaneaters. The Beaneaters watched Kitty over for five games and released him to Worcester's minor league team. After spending the 1899 season behind the plate, the 5'11", 207 lb. he switched to first base in 1900 and led the Eastern League in hitting with a .371 average. The 1901 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the death of Tom O'Brien, they needed a strong first baseman for the 1901 season Kitty proved to be the perfect match, they would walk away with their first NL pennant by 7.5 games over the second-place Phillies, Kitty batted .295 in 139 games and established career highs in runs (92) and RBIs (91). This was his rookie season in Major League. Kitty would play four seasons with the team. Prior to the 1905 season Kitty would be shipped to the Philadelphia Phillies. This move to Philadelphia did wonders for Kitty, his finest year with the Phillies was 1908 when he led the team with three home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .304 batting average, becoming one of only five .300 hitters in the National League that season. In September of 1911, the 36-year-old veteran became a Chicago Cub, and his three game stint filling in for the ailing Frank Chance marked the end of his major league career. Kitty returned to his hometown of Worcester in 1934 and would remain there until his death in 1947 at the age of 72. (bio by: Shock)